AUTHORITY TO ACT IN CHRIST'S NAME.

Men have no right to choose for themselves to be Christ's apostles or ministers of His Gospel. He said to His disciples,

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you." (John 15: 16).

St. Paul says concerning the holy priesthood of Christ,

"No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." (Hebrews 5: 4).

He also says, "God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers." (I Corinthians 12: 28). This shows that it was not man's right to place men in positions in the church, unless God authorized them to do so.

Jesus said John the Baptist was the greatest of prophets, yet he did not presume to baptize with the Holy Ghost, although he had the right to baptize with water. John understood that men should be specially authorized to act in any calling.

RESULT OF ACTING WITHOUT AUTHORITY.

We read in the scriptures, (Acts 1: 13-17), that certain Jews at one time undertook to act in the name of the Lord. They tried to cast out evil spirits. But they had no authority, and were overpowered by the evil spirits, and duly punished for taking upon themselves to act in the name of the Messiah without authority.

CONCLUSIONS DRAWN FROM PASSAGES MENTIONED.

From the scriptures mentioned, together with many others of like character, we may conclude that Christ's true apostles have power over unclean spirits and over diseases. They also have authority to act in His name. We can as well conclude that those who think it unnecessary to be authorized to minister in the ordinances of the Gospel are in error. Men may without authority attempt to teach the same doctrines as Jesus taught; they may organize a church after the same pattern; and some may even perform miracles by the power of the evil one, as did the magicians before Pharaoh in the days of Moses; but without authority from heaven to do so their pretensions are vain. We may justly reject any who may have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof.

ALL TRUE DISCIPLES PERSECUTED.

The disciples of Christ were told that they would have to suffer persecution. The Savior informed them that this should be the case, and led them to expect it.

"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. . . If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you." (John 15: 19, 20).

"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you: for so did their fathers to the false prophets." (Luke 6: 26).

The Apostle Paul says, "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (II Timothy 3: 12).

OUTWARD SIGNS OF THE TRUE CHURCH.

Most of the marks pointed out herein are outward signs by which the true Gospel and church of Christ may be known. The disciples of Jesus may always be recognized by the following signs which have already been pointed out:

They will Obey and Teach the Ordinances that Christ has said Must be Obeyed.

Those Ordinances are:

First, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;

Second, Repentance;

Third, Baptism by Immersion for the Remission of Sins;

Fourth, Laying on of Hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

They will Teach the Necessity of Obeying all the Lord's Commandments.

The Signs or Blessings Promised the Believers will Follow them,

They will be United, and will Love one Another.

They will be Organized into a Church after the Pattern Mentioned in the Scriptures.

They will have Apostles and Prophets at their Head, who will have Power and Authority to Act in Christ's Name.

They will be Persecuted as Long as Wickedness Reigns in the Earth.

FAITH NEEDED.

The pointing out of the marks by which the disciples of Christ are to be known may assist one in searching for the truth. But faith on the part of the individual himself is needed to guide him. It is very important to salvation.

HOW TO GET FAITH.

The question may be asked, how can this faith so necessary to salvation be gained?

"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10: 17).

When one hears the Gospel of Christ—the "glad tidings of great joy"—naturally he should wish it were true, because it is so good. That wish or desire will help greatly to awaken belief in his mind. When a person hopes a thing is true he becomes interested in finding out if it be true. Prejudice is a foe to faith. It often causes one to turn away from that which is good.

KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOSPEL NECESSARY TO SALVATION.

It is necessary for every individual to know for himself concerning the truth of the Gospel of Christ.

"This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17: 3).

There is a way to get this knowledge. That way is similar to the way in which we obtain other knowledge. It is by putting works with our faith.

"Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." (I John 2: 3).

Faith comes by hearing, knowledge by doing. Knowledge is the result of faith.

HOW KNOWLEDGE IS GAINED.

When a child is told that he can learn to read and write by following the instructions of his teacher he is likely to believe it. If he is told so by his parents or some one whose word he can rely upon he will believe with much assurance or confidence, which is called faith. That faith causes him to act. He follows the instructions of his teacher, and in time learns to read and write. His faith is then turned to knowledge. He does not depend upon the testimony of some one else. He knows from actual experience that the arts of reading and writing can be learned by taking the course marked out. It is the same with the Gospel. When it is obeyed it brings knowledge to the individual.

GROWTH OF FAITH ILLUSTRATED BY A PARABLE.

One of our Savior's parables shows very beautifully how the word of God, when received in the heart, begins to grow and expand. In His parable of the sower He likens the word of God, or the Gospel, to a seed. (Luke 8: 5-16). Embodied within a tiny seed is the germ or source of a most marvelous power. It is one of the greatest forces of the natural world. Under proper conditions that little mite of matter is capable of the most remarkable development. When a gardener obtains a precious kind of seed, or one that will produce a desirable fruit, he will preserve it with care. He will thoroughly prepare the soil in which he plants it, and will do all in his power to favor its growth. The desire to receive the good fruit he has been told it will produce makes him hope that the seed is good. That hope or wish will inspire him with enough faith to make the test.

In due time after planting he finds that the seed has commenced to grow. It puts forth tiny leaves that appear above the soil, and his faith is strengthened. He is assured that the seed had the germ of life within it when he received it. He continues to favor its growth, by keeping down the weeds, by protecting it from the scorching heat of the sun and the blighting breath of the wind and frost. By doing this the gardener sees that the plant continues to increase in size and strength. Thread-like roots spread out in all directions beneath the soil to secure hold therein, as well as to procure sustenance for its life and growth A tender twig shoots upward to receive additional sustenance from the air and the sunlight. Day by day and year by year the plant continues to grow and gain strength, until eventually it becomes a mighty tree. The heat of the sun now only causes it to grow the stronger, and the fierce winds to make its root more firmly planted, so that no ordinary force can resist its power of expansion.

In due season the tree produces fruit of its kind. Its seeds ripen and fall to the earth, and they in turn grow, and thus the species is perpetuated forever.

With the ripening of the fruit the faith of the man who planted the tree is ripened into perfect knowledge. He knows what was told him about the seed was true, having thoroughly tested it.

WORD OF GOD LIKE A SEED.

The word of God, or the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is in character like the seed. As the seed contains within it such great physical force, so the word of God possesses most wonderful spiritual power. When the Gospel of Christ is heard by one who has a desire to obtain its fruits, that desire will awaken within him a spark of belief. That belief will cause him to prepare his heart for the reception of the word of God. He will plant it there by seeking to obey its teachings. When once planted there, if cherished, shielded and protected it will grow. Its effect will be similar to that of the seed buried in good soil. Its roots of faith will sink deep in the heart and become firmly planted there. Hope, like a tender twig, will spring heavenward. By this the person will know that the seed was good Day by day and year by year it will strengthen, until neither the heat of temptation nor the storms of adversity can disturb it or uproot it from the heart. It, too, in time will bring forth fruit, the fruit of eternal life. Such is the wonderful character of the word of God, or the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

WHERE IS THE TRUE GOSPEL AND CHURCH OF CHRIST?

The reader may ask the question, Is the Gospel of Christ, with all its attendant powers, gifts and blessings, upon the earth to-day? If it is, it must be of the character described herein. It must be the same as it was anciently, for it is everlasting and unchangeable in its nature.

IT IS UPON THE EARTH.

There is a church that claims to teach the very same doctrines that Christ taught. Its members claim to enjoy the same blessings promised the believers. They claim to have the same organization, with living apostles and prophets at the head. These officers claim to have received the same power and authority as Christ's first apostles had. They and their followers have been evil spoken of and persecuted for their religion ever since they were first organized as a church. They manifest all the outward signs by which the followers of Christ may be known. They make the same promises as the former disciples of Jesus made to those who obey the Gospel. The many thousands who have accepted their teachings and obeyed them testify that the promises made to them have been received.

THEIR CLAIMS DIFFERENT TO ALL OTHERS.

The claims of the members of this Church are different from those of all other professors of religion. They claim to have received their doctrines and their authority direct from heaven, by the visitation of holy angels. There is no other source from which it could be received. The name by which this Church is known is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Lord in a revelation commanded His latter-day disciples to take upon themselves this name.

The message of the restoration to earth of the true Gospel of Christ is a glorious one. All who hear it should rejoice in the contemplation that the Lord has again spoken from heaven. The message is such a good one that all mankind should desire and hope that it is true. If they will do this, they will be led to investigate it. Then they will learn for themselves that it is indeed the Gospel of Christ.

The Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, bear witness to the truth of this divine message which they are proclaiming to the nations of the earth. They kindly ask all to lay aside prejudice and examine their claims in the spirit of humility and prayer.

"Do you suppose that this people will ever see the day that they will rest in perfect security, in hopes of becoming like another people, nation, state, kingdom or society? They never will. Christ and Satan never can be friends. Light and darkness will always remain opposites."

—Brigham Young.

"Though our religious principles are before the world, ready for the investigation of all men, yet we are aware that the sole foundation of all the persecution against us has arisen in consequence of calumnies and misconstructions, without foundation in truth or righteousness."

—Joseph Smith.